Denver’s new minor league hockey team has reached an affiliation agreement with the Avalanche, both teams announced Thursday.

The move means that Avalanche prospects can be assigned to the Denver Cutthroats, who will play at the Denver Coliseum. The Avalanche can also promote Cutthroats players to the AHL and NHL levels.

“We’re humbled, thrilled and excited to be a part of the Avalanche family,” Cutthroats head coach Derek Armstrong said in a statement. “Our job is to support their players and hockey operations department however they need and that’s what we are here to do.”

It’s rare that CHL-level teams are affiliated with an NHL club. Last season, there were only three teams with ties: the Allen Americans (Dallas/Avalanche), the Arizona Sundogs (Phoenix) and Missouri Mavericks (Vancouver).